I'm in the same boat. I also work as a mentor for people going through a computing apprenticeship scheme, where they work part-time at a big tech company for 3-4 years, and then have the opportunity to join as an entry-level engineer.

One of the big things people don't talk about as much in software engineering is imposter syndrome. It's very high amongst those with great academic achievements, so imagine for a second what it's like if you're self-taught! Many bootcamps and apprenticeship schemes cover the hard skills aspect, but the theory behind everything can be extremely important, even when it's not immediately obvious.

I agree with your points, and I'd say that adding everything else on top often makes getting a degree a no-brainer IMO. Obviously, it's expensive and time-consuming, but it gives you dedicated time to learn, ticks the inevitable box that many HR departments put in front of big tech job ads, and most importantly gives you a non-trivial task that you can point towards as proof of you belonging.